Johannes Wenger

Having a parent who is a part-time musician, music always played a huge part in my life. Although I had ever-changing ideas about pursuing different professions as a child, the dream of becoming a musician was constant. Mathematics, however, was something I also happened to be pretty good at. It led me to study economics and management in depth, and finance became an almost natural choice. Besides attending the Ludwig-Maximilians-University in Munich, I studied in Copenhagen and Bangkok.

My parents had a big influence on how I feel about my responsibilities towards a just society. They have always been ecologically conscious, possibly the first generation who cared. They are nature lovers, my dad biked to work, and my mom volunteered, so my upbringing was quietly immersed in their approach to life.

When I started working as a financial auditor in a corporate environment, I quickly realised that even though the work was fulfilling in terms of subject matter, I was searching for tasks that carried greater purpose and impact. Especially in the light of the climate crisis, I decided that a positive impact on nature and society has to be the key aspect of my professional aspirations.

I found an amazing community at Ananda. Not only is the mission of the company powerful in itself, but also my colleagues’ mindest continues to inspire me; they are all mission-driven people. And of course, looking at our portfolio companies and their founders further strengthens this effect.